Textile Evolution

Textile Evolution is a unique retreat experience
at the beautiful Franciscan Retreat Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
This is their third year at the same location.
It was planned as a small and intimate retreat experience
for folks that love fabric and mixed media.
I have been asked to teach there this fall!
I am SO excited to be a part of this fabulous retreat!
I'll be teaching the "Scraps, Fragments and Artifacts" class.
Please go to the retreat web site and check it out!
If you are like me, you know how very important it is to
cater to your creative spirit a little bit every year.
This is a great way to relax, meet some new friends (or hang out with old ones!),
learn a lot of new techniques and create some wonderful art work.
The web site gives you a couple of options on pricing.
One includes almost everything that you would need!
Just remember that the classes are small - they want to keep that intimate experience intact-
so sign up early to assure your spot.

Cardinals in the Snow

I had sketched a cardinal to paint.
This is the painting on my Lexmark scanner - no changes made.
It's hard to see the snow on the tree limbs in this version. This is one from another scanner that we have- it's a Lexmark 5600.
I also made a small change - I think I clicked on the sharpen button. I have it all written down - somewhere on this desk...

Another version.

I can't decide which one I like the best...what about you?

Southern Snow and a new project

Well, here in upstate South Carolina it doesn't snow very much.
We get so excited when it does snow - like right now!
It's been snowing for a couple of hours and beginning to accumulate on things.
The weathermen are suggesting 2-4 inches but I guess we'll see, huh?


While I was watching for the snow to begin - I mean while I was going about my duties at home- I started a new journal project.
I just love making books, especially journals!
I used an old plastic file folder as the base of this new shabby rust journal.



I had signed up for Mary Ann Moss's class "Remains of the Day" a while back
and just never had (or took) the chance to make my journal cover.
I decided to avoid all the other things I need to be doing and make it now.
I pulled out all of my yummy rusty bits and started cutting into them.
I used a wide piece of crocheted trim that I made several years ago
(and rusted last year) as the trim for the front of my cover.
I love the colors of the rust.
So natural looking.




I will begin sewing in my signatures tonight or tomorrow.
I might add a few more bits and pieces of "stuff" on the pages before I sew them in.
I'll try to remember to take pictures of the pages.
I hope that you all have a creative weekend.
Remember to Feed Your Muse.

Oh...

Here is the painting that I was working on when I stopped to paint the Thank You card.
Hope you enjoy it! My dear mother in law saved an old calendar for me from last year.
Without me even asking!
How sweet is that?!
She knew I would love the 12 photos of beautiful birds it held inside.
I'm trying to paint each and every one of them
and then use the paintings in collage work or some kind of fiber work...
I should be ready to teach a "Bird Paintin' Class" after that many birds!

Keep your eyes open as I've got some really exciting news on my teaching plans for the fall!
I hope when you see where I'm teaching you'll want to join me!
Info coming soon...

Goldfinch Painting

Actually, it is a hand painted note card that I am sending to a family member.
I had been painting this morning and my husband suggested that a hand painted
Thank You card would be nice...
so, here there it is.
A hand painted Thank You card for a nice couple that had us over for dinner this weekend!